Thank God! It wasn’t me.

I am flying to Boston from Portland to be with my son. Since I am around sixty I have what usually people of my age have-urinary urgency. I want to ease myself. The toilets both in front and back of aircraft are occupied. I am seated in the front; I go and wait near the front toilet. The air hostess tells me to go back and sit in my seat. I am restless and hence after a few minutes I again go and wait near the toilet. Again the airhostess firmly tells me togo back to my seat. Again I come back to my seat. Luckily within a minute, the toilet door opens,aircraft pilot comes out and I rush to the toilet.
.Oh! My God! What a great relief!

I have to change flight at Philadelphia to proceed to Boston. Imagine my panic and devastation when police are waiting to arrest me and handcuff me.

If you are wondering what happened to me, you are in for a surprise. All this did not happen to me, but to a highly respected Indian American doctor. Please read on!
Southwest: Doctor Flying Southwest Tries To Go To Bathroom, Ends Up In Jail

Gopalan

Gopalan Sir,
What a relief..true Sir...
But the news is very much disturbing..
Hope that Dr. gets his share of justice, soon..

sriniketan

Dear sir

thanks for bringing this to attention. Indeed it is disturbing. We fly Southwest most of the time. Souldn't the stewardesses be announcing the new rules before the flight commences along with the safety demo?

Dear Dr Gopalan,

Even though the contents of the attached article are absolutely horrifying , you have to be thanked for circulating it and educating people about the likely problems that passengers may face while flying airlines in the US.

If there is genuinely a federal law , regarding a passenger not being legally permitted to roam around in an aircraft while the pilot is not in the cockpit, then it is reasonable to assume that a public announcement must be made by the pilot/crew at boarding time itself so that passengers are aware of this law.

Regards.

Originally Posted by gopalan1937

I am flying to Boston from Portland to be with my son. Since I am around sixty I have what usually people of my age have-urinary urgency. I want to ease myself. The toilets both in front and back of aircraft are occupied. I am seated in the front; I go and wait near the front toilet. The air hostess tells me to go back and sit in my seat. I am restless and hence after a few minutes I again go and wait near the toilet. Again the airhostess firmly tells me togo back to my seat. Again I come back to my seat. Luckily within a minute, the toilet door opens,aircraft pilot comes out and I rush to the toilet.
.Oh! My God! What a great relief!

I have to change flight at Philadelphia to proceed to Boston. Imagine my panic and devastation when police are waiting to arrest me and handcuff me.

If you are wondering what happened to me, you are in for a surprise. All this did not happen to me, but to a highly respected Indian American doctor. Please read on!
Southwest: Doctor Flying Southwest Tries To Go To Bathroom, Ends Up In Jail

Gopalan

Dear Mr.Gopalan
Its a relief to know it wasnt you.. but at the same time feel sorry for that Doctor.. I can understand what kind of a trauma he would have gone through..
Nevertheless, thanks for sharing this information, so that our US friends can be careful henceforth.

This is really a horrifying incidence.

It should not only be mandatory that they announce about the federal law before the flight takes off...but also announce it when the pilot goes in and out of the cockpit. People sitting behind or who are dozing may not be even aware that the pilot is not in his seat.

Dear Gopalan Sir,

It is so bad...

We get to talk about 21st century and all the technology improvements. Gandhiji fought for race discrimination. But, what do we see thru this incident?

His stand should be justified as he didn't know. The hostess was rude, too.

But, 'ignorance of law is no excuse' is a famour sentence...

Thanks so much, Sir, for keeping us informed...

Gopalan Sir
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Nowadays one needs to be very careful. Its sad to hear but these are the happenings of today.

Originally Posted by Sriniketan

Gopalan Sir,
What a relief..true Sir...
But the news is very much disturbing..
Hope that Dr. gets his share of justice, soon..

sriniketan

Ms Sriniketan,

Doctor must have had his own reasons not to follow up.
Gopalan

Stupid lady...

I understand that after 9/11, not everything is the same..but where is your manners lady? I would agree if you had politely explained and still he making the move to the toilet might be wrong.. But not given him a chance to explain or bossing over him.. thats plain abuse..

I hope she faces this situation when shes older and then understand how elders might feel when they have the urge to "go"

Hope he gets his justice soon.. fight it out !!!